Subject: How is harmfulness of radiation measured?

>      My major question is that I donít really understand how the
>harmfulness of a certain radiation is measured.  Is there is a flat
>line that defines harmfulness?
>
>I wanted to do a project on how radiation affects living things.  I
>didnít choose a specific type of radiation, but will probably use
>several sources of electromagnetic radiation around the house (such
>as the microwave oven, cell phone).  I wasnít sure of how to measure
>the effects of radiation.  My teacher suggested exposing planarian
>worms to these types of radiation and see if it affects their
>reproduction rate.  He said that planarians reproduce quickly are
>arenít very expensive to buy.
>
>      I wasnít very sure if the worm reproduction idea was a very
>accurate way to measure the effects of radiation...the radiation from the cell 
phone is not
>strong enough to have measurable effects on the worms.  Do you have
>suggestions?  I have also heard somewhere about a liquid that
>simulates the electrical properties of human tissue and is used to
>determine the SAR of cell phones.  Are you familiar with this
>material and if it is possible to make a similar material at home?
>
>      Thank you so much.
>
>Jeff

Re: How is harmfulness of radiation measured?